Above: The unique suspension
turrets are evident coming through the inner wings

Above: The interior is standard,
other than the slightly cranked gear lever

Above: Low mileage, but
heavyweight.

1972

Scimitar GTE Ferguson 4x4

A one off scimitar was built using Tony Rolt's
(from FF - Ferguson Formula) 4 wheel drive technology. Ex-BRM
Chassis designer John Crosthwaite joined the Reliant team and with the
help from "Senior Sports Car Designer" Ted Laban and Os Webb from Ferguson
the original Scimitar GTE chassis had to be re-designed to enable it to
take front wheel drive, revise engine & gearbox mountings to take the
increased GKN transmission weight, get drive to front diff past existing
Ford 3ltr power unit clutch housing and maintain steering geometry
while moving steering rack to clear GKN front Diff Unit.

As you can see from the photographs opposite a
full chassis complete with engine and running gear was built.

A torque split of 40/60 was used and the
drive to the front differential was taken from the rear of a special
overdrive gearbox by Hi-Vo chain and propshaft containing two constant
velocity joints.

It was said that the Scimitar had Maxaret Anti lock brakes, but after
further research, it seems that they were not used on this Scimitar?

The Dunlop Maxaret anti-lock brake system was used for Ford 4wd Project 134.
Tony Rolt MD of Harry Ferguson Research patented Derek Gardener's idea using Potty Putty as viscous coupling for slip control as part of differential between front & rear drive.
Rolt sold 4WD patents to GKN to finance his new company Ferguson Formula Developments
FFD. The new Wolston factory provided capacity to meet the new Chrysler project.
Os Webb went as part of the package to GKN.

Os developed the idea into a working coupling using internally splined plates over centre epicyclic diff with slots & gaps in multiplates running in viscous fluid.
Rolt's FFD retained the rights to produce low volume 4WD & continued development
"

Here is a picture of the centre output shaft showing splined outer

Above: intended 2nd prototype viscous coupling planet diff

The Scimitar was never intended for production, it was more
of an engineering exercise.

A huge thanks go to Ted Laban (ex-Reliant draughtman) for copies of the
development photographs and the drawings.

The car remained at the back of the Reliant
development department in decaying state until John Crosthwaite (ex-BRM/Reliant
Engineer) talked Ray Wiggin into selling him
the car, when it was restored and registered as NRF 519L.

After a number of years John Crosthwaite sold the unique 4x4 Scimitar to a private
collector, which I finally got to see in 2012, but I had to keep details and
photographs to myself.

This unique one off 4x4 Scimitar has been in the hands of private collectors
for years until it was purchased amongst 543 other cars by the Jaguar/Land
Rover Collection. The JLR group have recently put a selection of cars
up for auction including the 4x4 Scimitar with no reserve to help raise
money for a charity in Bicester.

This special Ferguson 4WD Scimitar GTE will be in the auction on 21st
March 2018 via Brightwells Auction in Bicester:

Following various designs to make a four wheeled version of the Bond
Bug, this curious design was built by Ogle Design for Reliant.

This 2 seater coupe started life as a mock up, but then went on to
be used as a styling exercise, before being finished off by a Reliant
employee using various spare parts.

Above:
Artists
Impression

1975

Scimitar SE6 Prototype

This was the Ogle/Reliant artists sketch of
the new longer and wider Scimitar GTE known as the SE6 that would replace
the and SE5a series.

Above: Sketch
by Bertone

Above: FW11
Press Release

Above: The
proposed SE7 Scimitar *

Above:This
FW11
prototype survives in Germany, and is going to be restored by its new
owner.

Above This FW11
in Rahmi M. Koç Museum, Istanbul. Many Thanks to Tony Phillipson,
General Manager for these great photo's.

1977

FW11 Prototype

Reliant produced a four door hatchback based on a design by
Bertone. There were actually 4 cars made. One resides in a
Turkish Museum, one was broken up and used for spares, one survives in England and the other car was
destroyed by Reliant.

Reliant looked at different ideas for the FW11, originally the car
was set to replace the Anadol in Turkey, but Reliant were looking at
possibly replacing the Scimitar with this model and it was dubbed the
"SE7". Various styling was used and as the * pictures
show, they fitted an FW11 with alloy wheels, Scimitar badges
and registration plates. The car was fitted with a Ford 1.6 litre
engine, but they looked at various sized engines to suit including a 2.8
litre.

The blue FW11 lives in the Rahmi M. Koç Museum, Istanbul
and was restored by Ford Otosan craftsmen and is now part of their fantastic exhibition.

Amongst many great exhibits, they also have a superb looking Reliant
Scimitar SE5a donated by Ray Wiggin!!

UPDATE: Sept 2006 Great
News:

The beige FW11 prototype has
recently been purchased by German car enthusiast Jens Meiners. Jens
is currently shipping the car to Germany and intends to fully restore the
car over the winter/spring. Jen says "Remarkably the FW11
still runs and drives after many years of storage, but is in need of a lot
of TLC"

In
1978, Ritchie Spencer asked Tom Karen from Ogle Design to redesign the
Scimitar GTE and adapt it into a convertible. Tom Karen
quickly came up with plans which involved cutting up a new Scimitar GTE
bodyshell and replacing the rear body work to include a boot and a
lid. The existing chassis was strong enough and did not need any
alterations, however the body work had to reinforced in places to add
rigidity. The roof was cut off and replaced with a T-bar section as
per the Triumph Stag. Extra supports and stiffening structures were
bonded around the A-post, beneath the doors and a reinforced bridge
section was made to fit around the boot section. The hood contacted
out to Coventry Hood Company, who produced the GTC hoods from a high
quality German Happich material, which included a larger rear window
and rear quarter light sections for extra visibility.

The
GTC prototype was produced and registered as XJW 247T on 11 05
1979 and was termed an SE8.

(Production
GTC's were called the SE8b.)

The
car went through various changes during its time at Reliant which included
more body work reinforcements to help reduce scuttle shake and it went
through various hood assessments. The biggest change was the
engine. As Ford were phasing out the 3 litre Essex engine, they
decided to fit Ford's new Cologne 2.8 litre engine. Although power
wasn't affected, the torque was much less, so the original 3.33:1 axle was
swapped for 3.54:1 to help compensate for this.

The
car was later used by Tom Leake of Shropshire Star newspaper for a trip to
Geneva and back before finally being bought by motoring journalist Mike McCarthy with 23,000 miles on the clock.

XJW 247T
featured in
Old Motor March 1982.

The
car was then purchased by Martin Morris, who used it a lot for towing his ERA to
race meetings. Sadly Martin Morris passed away and the car was up for
sale recently.

Do you have any more
details/photographs of any of the above vehicles?